Shoulder decisions — 2026

The appeal of the claim for entitlement to an earlier effective date for a left shoulder disability is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the increased rating claim for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right shoulder disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's active military service records are incomplete due to a failure to search the correct time span.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability because the new evidence submitted was not relevant to the in-service element of the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for PFB, hypertension, and right knee degenerative arthritis. The claims for left shoulder disability and skin rash have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate VA opinions. The cases will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for hearing loss was denied.,The appeals for service connection for a broken nose, sinus condition, and tinnitus were dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and a left shoulder disability was denied. The appellant submitted a VA Form 21-8940 application for TDIU within one year of the denial, which served as a supplemental claim. The Board found that this constituted continuous pursuit of the initial rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hemorrhoids has been granted.,Service connection is established for major depressive disorder, recurrent, with anxious distress.,Service connection is established for lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis.,Service connection is established for cervical strain and degenerative disc disease.,Service connection is established for left shoulder impingement syndrome with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, status post subacromial decompression surgery.,Service connection is established for right shoulder impingement syndrome with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, status post subacromial decompression surgery.,Service connection is established for migraine headaches.,Service connection is established for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).,Service connection is established for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right knee disability, left shoulder disability condition, right shoulder disability condition, left shin splints, and right shin splints due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's service records show no evidence of these conditions during active service or as a result of toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, voiding dysfunction, and sarcoid type granuloma of the right upper lip are granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder condition are denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis and right shoulder impingement are rated at 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The decision grants these ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to service and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right middle finger ganglion cyst is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues of service connection for his shoulder and knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis. The AOJ is required to obtain a new examination and opinion for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical opinions and incomplete toxic exposure documentation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left shoulder conditions, low back condition, neck condition, and right ankle condition. The right foot condition is not currently diagnosed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disorder, joint pain disorder, and right shoulder disorder due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board finds that the VA examinations are insufficient in addressing the Veteran's reported symptoms of continuous pain since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of his hands or feet, nor does he have a severe burn injury. Therefore, he is ineligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuity of symptoms since separation.,Right knee, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted as service-connected. The claims for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.